Tuesday, October 6

1996: The Martyrs' Stone

The event included representatives of other denominations, including the local Anglican suffrigan bishop, a local Methodist leader and representatives of the Society of Friends. Crowds gathered in Dalton Square, from where Bishop Brewer and the other religious leaders led the way.

Mounted police cleared the road ahead of the procession; a brass band is also visible in this picture.

A crowd of several hundred people gathered for the event, which had something of the spirit of the earlier hugely popular martyrs' rallies.

Today the memorial still stands on the hill above the Cathedral. Each year on 7th August - the feast of the Lancaster Martyrs - prayers are said around it. The site for the memorial was chosen after much historical research carried out by Lancaster University students Susan Anderson and Peter Williamson, under the supervision of Dr Mike Mullett. Bishop Foley, who had a noted interest in local Catholic history, was also very involved. It appears that different executions were carried out in this area but not always on the same site; a number of places in the locality appear to have been used.

Billington: the Book

Canon Billington's original history of the parish was published in 1910, and we plan to reprint this fine work next year. A second volume, tracing the parish's history from 1909 until the present day, will also be published. It's too early to give any further details, but if you're interested let us know, and we will contact you when the book is ready to go to print. Email us to register your interest.

About Me

Canon Billington wrote the original history of St Peter's parish, which was published in 1910 and is due to be republished, with a second volume covering the last 100 years, in 2010. He is our guide as we look back on 150 years of the church which became Lancaster Cathedral in 1924.